Колин Эдвардс: «Техасский торнадо» - мотоспорт шеберінің өмірі мен мансабы

American motorcycle racer
Colin Edwards, the motorcycle racer

Colin Edwards II (born February 27, 1974), nicknamed the "Texas Tornado", is an American former professional motorcycle racer who retired half way through the 2014 season, but continues in the sport as a factory test rider. He is a two time World Superbike champion and competed in the MotoGP class from 2003 to 2014.

Edwards was born in Conroe, Texas. At the age of three, his Australian father, Colin Edwards Sr. (an amateur motorcycle racer himself), introduced him to a minibike, and Edwards entered his first motocross race at the age of four. Over the next ten years, Edwards became one of the top ranked junior motocross competitors in the US, winning dozens of races in the 50cc to 80cc categories in local, regional and national events. In 1988 at the age of 14, Edwards stopped competing in motocross races, having become distracted by the normal demands of being a teenager. However, in 1990, Edwards and his father attended a motorcycle road race event in north Texas, and this inspired him to attempt road racing. In 1991 Edwards began competing in amateur road racing events locally, but rapidly progressed to national events. He was undefeated in every amateur event he entered that year, and won numerous national amateur titles. His performance was sufficiently impressive for him to be offered a sponsored ride with South West Motorsports, and Edwards turned professional just before the commencement of the 1992 season.

In his first professional season (1992), Edwards entered the AMA 250cc National Series. He won five of the nine races and the national title over second place earner Kenny Roberts, Jr. In 1993 and 1994 Edwards rode for Vance & Hines on a Yamaha in the AMA Superbike Championship, earning 6th and 5th place overall in those years.

In Edwards was offered a factory position with Yamaha in the Superbike World Championship. Colin Edwards results started to suffer after a crash in Germany. In the next four races Edwards failed to break the top ten and his best result since the podium at Assen was a sixth place at the final round of the season at Valencia. Edwards confirmed that he had signed for Tech3 for yet another season. "It is no secret that I had agreed with Yamaha to finish my MotoGP career at the end of 2008 and continue my racing career with them in America, but as soon as I began working with the Tech3 team I instantly formed a great relationship with my guys." Therefore, Edwards will once again be riding for Tech3 Yamaha in 2009 as he searches for his first MotoGP victory.

Edwards once again demonstrated consistent form in the 2009 MotoGP season, establishing himself as the strongest satellite rider in the championship. He secured a second place finish in the British Grand Prix at Donington Park. After being caught in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix, Edwards directed typically outspoken criticism towards Alex de Angelis, claiming: "We are in Italy and occasionally you have to deal with an Italian rider who wants to be a hero and today that was De Angelis. De Angelis is the guy who needed to be wearing Valentino’s donkey helmet," in reference to a special edition helmet being worn by Valentino Rossi.

On October 1, 2009 Edwards announced that he had signed a one year contract extension that would see him ride for Tech3 Yamaha in the season. His teammate will be fellow American Ben Spies.

On September 19, 2010, Edwards signed a one year contract extension to ride for Tech3 Yamaha in the season, partnering Cal Crutchlow. At the Catalan Grand Prix, Edwards broke his right collarbone during second practice, which successfully had a plate added. Nine days later, and in his first race since injury, Edwards took a third place finish at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, having been promoted to a podium placing after accidents for Jorge Lorenzo and Marco Simoncelli. It was his first podium finish since a second place result at the 2009 British Grand Prix at Donington Park. On October 23, along with Valentino Rossi, Edwards was involved in the accident that killed Marco Simoncelli at the Malaysian Grand Prix, injuring his left shoulder and ending his season. Josh Hayes replaced him for Valencia.

On September 3, 2011, Edwards announced that he would leave the Tech3 team, to ride as the single entry for NGM Mobile Forward Racing in The team was making their re entry to the premier class under the new Claiming Rule Teams regulations with a Suter chassis powered by a BMW engine.

Remaining with Forward Racing for 2013, Edwards was partnered with rookie Claudio Corti on FTR Kawasaki machinery.

Edwards again remained with Forward Racing for 2014, this time partnering Aleix Espargaró on Yamaha based machines. At a press conference prior to the 2014 Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas, Edwards announced that the 2014 season will be his final MotoGP season, citing the struggle to adapt to a different riding style. It was stated after the Indianapolis round, that he would not compete in the second half of the season, and was replaced by Alex de Angelis. During commentary for the British MotoGP round at Silverstone on August 31, 2014, Edwards revealed he will be a test rider for Yamaha and Michelin for the next two years.

In 1996, Edwards teamed with Noriyuki Haga to claim victory in the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race riding a Yamaha, his first international victory. Edwards won the 8 Hours two more times: in 2001 with Valentino Rossi, and in 2002 with the late Daijiro Kato, both times with Honda.

Edwards has twice represented the United States in the Michelin Race of Champions Nation's Cup, first in 2000 and again in 2002 when the US team won the event. The competition involves a national team that includes an automobile racer, a rally/off road driver and a motorcycle racer. The 2002 US team included former off road racer and NASCAR rookie Jimmie Johnson as the rally driver, and four time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon in the automobile category.

Following the end of his racing career, Edwards joined British MotoGP broadcaster BT Sport in 2016 as a pundit in their pre and post race programming.

The Colin Edwards Texas Tornado Boot Camp or TTBC is a world class motorcycle training facility built on a plot of land near Lake Conroe. It is a premier training facility for those new to riding, motorcycle enthusiasts, as well as professionals looking to polish up on their skills. TTBC offers a wide range of moto training and events including 1&2 day camps, private camps, Dirt Wars, racers camps and The Colin Edwards 4 day Experience. The "Colin Edwards Experience" is a 4 day camp with Edwards himself involved in the training, including time on the 500yard gun range.

SeasonMotorcycleTeamRaceWinPodiumPoleFLapPtsPlcdWCh 1995 Yamaha Yamaha World Superbike Team 20 0 2 0 1 141 11th – 1996 Yamaha Yamaha World Superbike Team 20 0 7 2 0 248 5th – 1997 Yamaha Yamaha World Superbike Team 8 0 1 0 1 79 12th – 1998 Honda Castrol Honda 24 3 6 0 0 277.5 5th – 1999 Honda Castrol Honda 26 5 10 2 3 361 2nd – 2000 Honda Castrol Honda 26 8 12 6 6 400 1st 1 2001 Honda Castrol Honda 25 4 12 0 4 333 2nd – 2002 Honda Castrol Honda 26 11 25 5 8 552 1st 1 Total 175 31 75 15 23 2391.5 2